King Charles III and Queen Camilla offered the Elephant Family environmental award to Indian conservationists: filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves behind Oscar-winning documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ and the Real Elephant Collective (TREC) of 70 Adivasi artists.

Kartiki Gonsalves was recognised for extraordinary achievements in storytelling and advocacy for coexistence. “This powerful film explores the profound connection between humans and elephants through the heartwarming story of Raghu, an orphaned elephant from the same herds depicted in TREC’s sculptures. Gonsalves dedicated her award to Mother India and the idea of coexistence, emphasising the importance of respect for indigenous communities and empathy towards all living beings,” the Elephant Family mentioned.

‘The Elephant Whisperers’ received the 2023 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film earlier this 12 months. The Elephant Family mentioned the documentary stands as a “testament to the beauty of India’s wilderness, the wisdom of tribal communities, and the empathy that exists between people and animals who share the same space”.

“As Kartiki Gonsalves, a true champion for wildlife and nature, receives this esteemed award, Elephant Family honours her unwavering dedication and unyielding enthusiasm towards the preservation of our natural world,” it added.

The Real Elephant Collective was awarded the Mark Shand Award, named in honour of the late founding father of Elephant Family. It is a world NGO devoted to defending the Asian elephant.

“The success of TREC has paved the way for the establishment of the CoExistence Consortium, an India-wide group that brings together local experts, ecologists, anthropologists, geographers, and conservationists. Working hand in hand with communities living alongside wildlife, the consortium designs and implements coexistence solutions that prioritise the perspectives and needs of these communities,” the wildlife charity mentioned.